Hyperlinks in Messages are not Working in Thunderbird

Updated On - October 22, 2024 by Prakriti | Reading Time: 7 minutes

Email clients are a fundamental part of our daily lives, and Thunderbird is one of the most popular choices among users. It’s an open-source, cross-platform email client developed by Mozilla, known for its reliability and robust features. However, like any software, Thunderbird can sometimes encounter issues, and one common problem that users face is hyperlinks in messages are not working.

This issue can be frustrating, as clicking a hyperlink should seamlessly take you to your desired web page. In this blog, we’ll explore why hyperlinks in messages are not working in Thunderbird and provide quick solutions to help you get back to a seamless email experience.

Why Hyperlinks in Messages are not Working in Thunderbird?

Before we delve into the solutions, it’s essential to understand why hyperlinks in Thunderbird may stop working. This issue can have several underlying causes; understanding them is the first step to resolving the problem.

• Browser Settings: Thunderbird uses your default web browser to open email links. If there is a problem with your browser settings, it can disrupt Thunderbird’s ability to open links.
• Preferences: Incorrect Thunderbird preferences for handling links can lead to this issue. Sometimes, these settings might change due to software updates or other factors.
• Content-Type: The type of content in the hyperlink and how Thunderbird interprets it may affect whether the link opens.
• Add-ons or Extensions: Third-party add-ons or extensions installed in Thunderbird can sometimes interfere with link functionality.

Now, let’s dive into some quick solutions to address these issues.

Quick Solutions to Fix ‘Hyperlinks in Messages are not Working in Thunderbird’ 

Hyperlinks are a crucial part of our daily communication, allowing us to access web content from our email messages quickly. However, when hyperlinks in Thunderbird stop working, it can be frustrating and disrupt your workflow. Fortunately, there are some quick solutions to address this issue and get your hyperlinks back on track. In this article, we’ll explore these solutions step by step.

Update to the Latest Version of Thunderbird

Updating your software is crucial for ensuring known issues are resolved, and the program functions correctly. To update Thunderbird, follow these steps:

• Open Thunderbird.
• Click on ‘Help’ in the menu bar.
• Select ‘About Thunderbird.’
• Thunderbird will automatically check for updates. Click ‘Update’ to download and install the latest version if available.
• After the update is complete, restart Thunderbird.

Updating Thunderbird can often resolve issues related to link handling.

Check Default Browser Settings

Thunderbird relies on your default web browser to open links. If there’s a problem with your browser settings, Thunderbird might struggle to launch web pages. To check and adjust your default browser settings:

• Open your default web browser.
• Access the browser’s settings or preferences.
• Locate the ‘Set as Default’ or ‘Make Default’ option. It’s usually found in the ‘General’ or ‘Default Apps’ section.
• Select the browser you want to set as the default.

Ensure that the browser you choose is installed and functioning properly. After setting your default browser, try opening links in Thunderbird again.

Check for an Incorrect Preference

Thunderbird has preferences that control how it handles links. An incorrect preference could be the culprit behind hyperlink issues. To check and adjust preferences:

• Open Thunderbird.
• In the menu bar, go to ‘Tools’ and click on the ‘Settings’.
• In the settings window, select ‘General’ and click on ‘Config Editor’ from the bottom of the window.
• Now search for the ‘network.protocol-handler.external-default’ and reset this option.
• Click ‘OK’ to save your changes.

Correcting the preference setting can resolve many hyperlink problems in Thunderbird.

Check the HTTP Content-Type

Thunderbird checks the content type of a hyperlink to determine how it should be opened. If this information is missing or incorrect, it may affect link functionality. To check the content type:

• Open Thunderbird.
• Click on ‘Tools’ in the menu bar.
• Select ‘Options’ (on Windows) or ‘Thunderbird’ and choose ‘Preferences’ (on macOS).
• In the Preferences/Options window, click on ‘Attachments.’
• Look for ‘HTTP’ in the content type list. If it’s not there, you can add it manually by clicking ‘Add.’
• Set ‘HTTP’ to use your default web browser.
• Click ‘OK’ to save your changes.

This step ensures that Thunderbird knows how to handle HTTP links.

Disable Add-ons or Extensions

Sometimes, third-party add-ons or extensions installed in Thunderbird can interfere with link functionality. To troubleshoot this:

• Open Thunderbird.
• Click on ‘Tools’ in the menu bar.
• Select ‘Add-ons.’
• In the Add-ons Manager, you can disable or remove add-ons one by one to identify if any of them are causing the issue.
• Restart Thunderbird after each add-on change to test if the links are working.

If disabling or removing a particular add-on resolves the issue, consider finding an alternative or checking for updates for the problematic add-on.

What is the option if all the above-given workarounds don’t work?

If you are not getting a solution to your issue, leaving Thunderbird and going with some advanced email client is a wise option. Converting Thunderbird’s data storage file format (MBOX) to Outlook’s data storage file format (PST) is a prevalent task that professionals do. For the same, Regain MBOX to PST Converter is a one-stop solution for professionals. See what does it offer:

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• It is compatible with all the versions of Windows OS.
• Users also get free technical support, and Regain’s support executives are available round-the-clock to assist you.

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How to Convert MBOX to PST in a few clicks?

Follow the below-given steps:

• First, install and launch the Regain MBOX To PST Converter.
• The Welcome screen will display where you add the MBOX file by clicking the “Add MBOX File Folder” button.
• After adding files, click on the Next.
• Now, you can see here all the added file content.
• Here, select the file format. Also, browse the location to save the resultant PST file format ( provide destination path). Using the PST Split option, you can also set the size for the consequent PST file format.
• Your MBOX files will be saved in the file format in a few minutes.

Conclusion:

Hyperlinks are essential in emails for accessing web content, and when they stop working, they can disrupt your workflow. Thunderbird, a popular email client, may encounter hyperlink functionality issues for various reasons, including browser settings, preferences, content types, and third-party add-ons. To resolve the ‘Hyperlinks in Messages are not Working in Thunderbird’ issue, following the above-mentioned solutions, it’s crucial to take a systematic approach.

In most cases, these methods can help restore the smooth operation of hyperlinks in Thunderbird. However, if these methods don’t work for you, you must convert Thunderbird mailbox to PST format and access them in Outlook. The best way to move Thunderbird to PST format is using the Regain MBOX to PST converter. You can also have a free trial of this professional utility.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q. Why are hyperlinks in Thunderbird not working?

A. Hyperlinks in Thunderbird emails may stop working due to issues with browser settings, incorrect preferences, problems with the content type, or conflicts with add-ons or extensions. Understanding the specific cause is crucial for finding a solution.

Q. Why should I update Thunderbird to fix hyperlink issues?

A. Keeping Thunderbird up to date ensures that known issues and bugs are resolved. Software updates often include fixes that can address hyperlink problems and improve performance.

Q. Can we manually check and correct the default browser settings in Thunderbird?

A. Default browser settings are managed outside of Thunderbird. You can manually adjust your default browser by accessing your browser’s settings or preferences. This blog guides you on how to do that.

Q. How can I confirm if an incorrect preference is causing hyperlink issues in Thunderbird?

A. To check and correct preferences, go to Thunderbird’s settings or preferences and ensure that “Open the link in the default web browser” is selected under the ‘When clicking on a link in a message’ section. This is explained in detail in the blog.

Q. Why is the HTTP content type essential for Thunderbird hyperlink functionality?

A. Thunderbird uses the content type to determine how to open hyperlinks. Ensuring that HTTP is correctly set to use the default web browser is essential to resolve hyperlink issues, as explained in the blog.

Q. What should I do if these quick solutions don’t work for my Thunderbird hyperlink issue?

A. If the quick solutions outlined in the blog do not resolve the issue, you may need to consider an alternative approach, such as exporting your MBOX files to PST format using a tool like Regain MBOX to PST converter. This is a reliable solution for accessing your emails in Outlook.